Armenia is known for its sunny weather, but also for its unique geographical location, with a rich and unique flora, where there is a wide variety of fruits.
What do you know about the various agricultural products of Armenia?
Among them, apricots and grapes are the most famous.
The former is considered the birthplace of grapes because of its long history and huge yields, while the latter is considered to have influenced the whole world.
Of course, Armenian fruits are by no means limited to these, Armenian gooseberry, Nairyan, Zivan these fruits, not most people know Armenian endemic fruit.
The highlands are inland, with cold winters and hot summers creating a diversity of Armenian fruits
Armenia, officially known as the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country located in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia and is also part of the Caucasus region. Armenia borders Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Iran and Azerbaijan to the south.
The scenery of Armenia.
The territory of Armenia covers an area of 29,743 square kilometers. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with turbulent rivers and sparse forests. The climate of Armenia is distinctly a highland continental climate. Summers are hot, dry and sunny, lasting from June to mid-September. Winters are cold, with temperatures lasting between -10 and -5°C.
Such a geographical climate gives the entire Armenian flora a unique and diverse character.
Armenian roadside fruit stalls.
Armenia has specific fruits for each season of the year. The fruit season begins in May, with strawberries and cherries ready in the Ararat Valley and the southern part of the country. The main season is from September to November, when the fruit shop will be eye-catching – grapes, peaches, apricots, watermelons, melons, plums, pomegranates, apples, pears, figs and persimmons are almost everything.
Before introducing the local Armenian gooseberry, Nairyan, Zivan, Zangezur, Armenian cucumber, I have to introduce the local apricots and grapes. Because they are too important to the culture of Armenia as a whole.
One takes its color and uses it on the national flag, and the other is the birthplace of the grapes of the world
Armenian apricot is one of the most grown varieties in Armenia. This 6,000-year-old apricot in Armenia was found in archaeological excavations at the Temple of Garni in the St. Gavite colony.
Armenians love apricots.
This golden fruit has been a symbol of Armenia for many years. It absorbs the bright glow of the Armenian sun and delights everyone every year with its mild taste and aroma. The apricot season doesn't last long: it starts in June and ends in early August. In this season, it is impossible to imagine an Armenian table without apricots: breakfast is served, added to hot dishes and desserts. At the end of the season, frugal housewives pick the best, sun-dried or prepare apricot sauce, with a unique aroma that is unmatched by anything else.
In Armenia apricots can be made a lot of food.
It is found in songs and poems; the almond tree is used to make wood carvings such as duduk, a common instrument in Armenia.
And the apricot color has become one of the three colors of the flag of the Republic of Armenia red, blue and apricot!
Armenian grapes
If you've read the article "Without grapes, human civilization might be crippled," you know that grapes were once eaten not only as fruit, but also as a source of healthy drinking water. Therefore, grapes have helped the development of human civilization to a certain extent.
And Armenia is the birthplace of viticulture!
The grapes that Armenians are proud of.
Legend has it that Noah's Ark landed on the territory of Mount Ararat, where Noah planted vines. Since then, grapes have been grown on The land of Armenia.
Hundreds of varieties are natively grown in Armenia, and they are picked from autumn onwards. Due to the low precipitation and plenty of sunshine, the grapes here are sweet. Armenians use this fruit to make the famous cognac and wine as well as fruit juices. One of the most delicious ethnic dishes, Dolma, is also cooked with grape leaves.
Armenians are harvesting grapes.
Grape-themed art also appeared among the Armenian nation, such as sculptures hanging on stone walls, elements widely used in jewelry making, and so on.
One of the most famous wine-growing regions in Armenia is the village of Areny, where archaeologists have discovered the oldest winery in the world.
5 kinds of Armenian endemic fruits, how many have you eaten?
01 Armenian gooseberry
Armenian gooseberry is endemic to the region. It is a deciduous shrub, up to 1 m tall, with dark grey branches. The petiole is large, usually more than 5 cm wide, heart-shaped at the base, incomplete pentagonal (lobes are triangular), large teeth. Below, the young shoots are covered with yellow, punctate, aromatic glands. The inflorescence consists of 4-9 blue-red or pink-gray flowers, sometimes with greenery. The berries are bare and sit on fruit 0.6-1 cm long. It flowers in May-June and ripens in July. Of course, it doesn't taste as sweet as it is, and it's now an endangered species.
Armenian blackcurrants, have you ever eaten them?
02Zangezur
Zangezur is a deciduous shrub 1-2 m tall, mostly found in mountains and rocky valleys. The inflorescence consists of several white flowers. The fruit is short oval, 0.8–1 cm in diameter, oblong in shape, with 1–2 nuclei. It flowers in May and ripens in September-October.
It does not have high requirements for growing conditions, although it likes moisture, it also grows well in dry places, and it does not have high requirements for soil fertility and structure, and its ability to resist pests and diseases is still very strong.
Have you ever eaten this fruit?
03Nairyan
Nairyan is one of the endangered species in Armenia. It is 1-2 m tall, branched and very prickly. Leaves: slightly thick, glabrous, oblong lanceolate, fully margined or arched, small, 2–2.5 (3) cm long and 0.6–0.8 cm wide. Ovate ovate, soft, flattened, with short ridges.
Nairyan grows mainly in the low- and middle-aged mountains at altitudes of 600 to 1800 meters, on dry rocky slopes with exposed rocks. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruit period is from June to September.
Have you ever seen this fruit?
04Zivan
Zivan is an annual or perennial herb with a stem up to 1 m tall. It grows in forest clearings and margins, mountain grasslands and meadows, and on steep hillsides. The inflorescence is spherical or ovate cephalic, the flowers are pale yellow or blue, covered with leathery petals. Flowering occurs in July-August. The fruit is a spiral-shaped square seed containing alkaloids, saponins, etc.
This fruit seems to be available domestically, have you ever seen it?
05 Armenian cucumber
Armenian cucumbers are pale green, ribbed, thin-skinned, and have few seeds. Also known as snake cucumber, it can grow up to about 1 meter.
Armenian cucumbers are not cucumber-like vegetables, they are actually melons, which are C. Melo varieties are like honeydew and cantaloupe – but they both taste and look like cucumbers. If you look at the appearance alone, I think you will feel that it is more like a bitter melon.
Armenian cucumbers are sweet to eat.
end:
At the crossroads of Asia and Europe, off the beaten track of Armenia not only has a long history and culture, but also many fruits scattered throughout the mountains.
If you are lucky enough to go, you can buy two pounds of grapes for 4 yuan during the fruit-rich season. Of course, you can also find endangered fruits such as Nairyan, Zivan, and Zangezur in the mountains, and maybe you can survive and plant it in the soil to pass on a species.
Sources:
FAOlex database, 33rd Armenian International Bio Olympiad, Armenian endangered species, Armenian Ministry of Agriculture...
The above is the entire content of this issue of "Global Fruit Tour - Armenia", I don't know if you know the fruits produced in Armenia, leave a message to tell me. If you want to know more, you can leave a message to let me know. If you want to get the corresponding fruit information, you can also leave a message to inform.
Welcome to follow me and take you to learn more about the wonderful world of fruit.
Global Fruit Parade Text Recommendation:
"Garcinia cambogia", "monkey fruit"... Nearly 20 african eagle Cameroon fruits you didn't know about
Naus fruit, eleuthero fruit, Pacific lychee... 10 kinds of vanuatu fruits, have you ever eaten
Have you heard of kaba, kola fruit, bread tree fruit, these kinds of fruits from the Gambia?
Azerbaijan, which has too many fruits to eat, has to pickle preserved fruits or preserves to eat
Ukraine, which once accounted for 50 percent of Russia's fruit production, is called the "granary of Europe" alongside Spain.